TLDR Index
TLDR Web Dev

TLDR WEB DEV 2024-07-05

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01ARTICLES & TUTORIALS

WHY VSCODE BUILT ITS OWN BUNDLER

Next.js needed a new bundler due to the limitations of Webpack in handling large-scale applications, particularly with the increasing use of component libraries and the rise of computationally heavy applications. The new bundler, Turbopack, aims to provide faster HMR and initial compile times, maintain compatibility with existing applications, and scale effectively for large codebases. It will also incorporate persistent caching and production optimizations.

github.com6 min read

ENHANCING THE NEW YORK TIMES WEB PERFORMANCE WITH REACT 18

The New York Times upgraded its React version, which brought some unexpected challenges. The upgrade required solving challenges with existing embedded interactives and managing script loading order. However, the result of the upgrade was immediately better performance. For example, its INP scores in the p75 range dropped by roughly 30% across the entire site.

open.nytimes.com11 min read

CONTAINER QUERIES WITH GRACEFUL FALLBACKS FOR MODERN LAYOUTS

Container queries are a new CSS feature for responsive layouts. The feature isn't supported by every browser. This article offers a fallback strategy using JavaScript and a custom `responsive-container` element that enables container queries while supporting older browsers.

web.dev15 min read

02OPINIONS & ADVICE

THE SADDEST “JUST SHIP IT” STORY EVER

This author regrets not shipping his app earlier, after discovering a competitor had launched a similar product with more features and a larger user base. He had delayed launching his app for two years due to perceived flaws, but realized that shipping, even with imperfections, is much better than not shipping at all. The author ultimately became a paying customer of the competitor's app and believes in shipping products early to gain traction and user feedback.

kitze.io4 min read

SHOULD YOU LEARN C TO "LEARN HOW THE COMPUTER WORKS"?

The claim that learning C teaches you "how computers work" is inaccurate because C operates within its own abstract machine, not directly on the hardware. However, learning C can provide great insights into computer architecture and operating systems, as the C abstract machine closely maps to these elements. For programmers primarily using higher-level languages, learning C can be valuable to understanding how their code interacts with the underlying machine.

steveklabnik.com7 min read

03LAUNCHES & TOOLS

LETSFORM

LetsForm makes React form development easier with JSON schemas and native UI components (Material UI, Ant Design, etc.). It eliminates boilerplate code, offers visual design tools, and provides features like validation, dynamic forms, and pre-built templates.

github.comGitHub repository

BROWSPILOT

Browspilot is a Chrome extension that provides full-text search of your browsing history.

chromewebstore.google.comTool

BORING UI

Boring UI takes in a JSON object and a prompt, then generates a UI for it.

boringui.vercel.appTool

04MISCELLANEOUS

ON THE ORIGINS OF DS_STORE

.DS_Store, which stands for "Desktop Services Store," was originally created to store metadata like icon positions and folder settings for the Mac OS X Finder. The name was chosen because there were plans to make the Finder backend a public API called Desktop Services. However, due to a bug, .DS_Store files are now excessively created even when users don't change view settings. The Desktop Services API was never fully released.

arno.org2 min read

AI'S 600B QUESTION

The AI industry is facing a $600 billion question about revenue generation, despite huge investments in AI infrastructure. While the GPU supply shortage has eased and stockpiles are growing, OpenAI still dominates AI revenue. Although AI is predicted to be a transformative technology, there are still tons of problems to work through, like its lack of pricing power, investment wastage, and rapid semiconductor depreciation.

sequoiacap.com4 min read

DOVETAIL: 15 IDEAS YOU CAN BORROW FROM THEIR JOURNEY BUILDING THE $1B INSIGHTS HUB

Dovetail is a customer insights platform that grew through focusing on small improvements, identifying under-served customer segments, and expanding their marketing channels strategically. It integrates with existing tools and uses AI strategically. Dovetail was developed with a design-led approach.

open.substack.com30 min read